In today's NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Heat 102-88. While the Celtics' duo weren't great, Derrick White stepped up and became the team's key man.
White played a big part in the game, playing 41 minutes and finishing with 38 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks. He shot 65.4 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three-point range. White's stellar performance made him only the third player in NBA playoff history to score at least 35 points in a single game and hit eight three-pointers and three blocks. Previously, Vince Carter and Damian Lillard had also achieved this feat.
Derrick White's explosive performance undoubtedly gave the Celtics a strong boost and they showed tenacious fighting spirit and teamwork in this game. Despite the lack of performance from the duo, the Celtics still defeated the Heat with their overall strength and teamwork. The win in this game gave the Celtics a morale boost and a solid foundation for their upcoming playoffs.
In the series between the Celtics and the Heat, in the three games in which the Celtics won, they managed to limit the Heat's scoring to less than 100 points. This shows the strength and excellent performance of the Celtics on the defensive end. It's worth noting that in the regular season this season, the Celtics limited opponents to games where they scored less than 100 points, and they achieved an impressive 18-0 record. This statistic is a testament to the Celtics' ability and consistency in defense.
However, in the Celtics' game against the Heat, a worrying situation occurred. In the second quarter of the game, Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis suffered an injury and had to leave the game.
This sudden situation is undoubtedly a huge blow for the Celtics. Porzingis is one of the key members of the team, and his injury could affect the team's tactical set-up and overall strength. Especially at a critical time like the playoffs, the absence of any key player can affect the direction of the game.
After the game, Porzingis wore a protective boot on his right foot, which further raised concerns about the severity of his injury. If Porzingis' injury is severe, he could miss the next few games, which will be a major challenge for the Celtics.